Anyone looking to avoid leftovers
If you’re cooking for one, a multipack of small, separate tins lets you open just one at a time. Check the weight of each tin and how much your recipe needs.
Who are these sizes for?
A small household planning several meals
A larger tin may work well if you know how you’ll use its contents after opening. Always follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve bought.
Anyone looking for a quick meal
A ready-made pulse-based recipe may be just what you need for a fuss-free meal. However, it isn’t a substitute for plain pulses that you can use in several different recipes.
What should you look for?
When shopping for retirement, start with the amount you plan to open, then decide whether you want plain pulses or a ready-made recipe. The weight of a tin alone doesn’t tell you how many meals it will provide.
Small, separate tins
Choose these: when you want to open a small amount for one meal. E.Leclerc, for example, stocks NOTRE JARDIN chickpeas in a pack of 3 × 130 g.
Check: a multipack is only useful for this purpose if the tins are separate and their contents suit your recipes.
A 215 to 265 g tin
Choose this: if your salad, soup or main meal uses this amount, or if you’ve planned what to eat next. Auchan, for example, stocks 215 g tins of chickpeas.
Check: this weight doesn’t automatically equal one portion. Follow the product’s instructions if you’re storing leftovers.
Larger tins
Choose these: when you’ve already planned several meals. Carrefour stocks 530 g tins of lentils, while ALDI sells prepared lentils in a 530 g tin.
Check: make sure you can use the amount you open while following the storage instructions for that product.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount you open | Number of separate tins, the weight of each one and the drained weight, if stated. | When I’m cooking a meal on my own, I’d rather open a small tin than store leftovers. Around 36% of consumers prioritise a quantity that’s just right for one meal. |
| Easy meal preparation | The difference between plain pulses and a ready-made recipe, plus any preparation instructions on the packaging. | When I want to serve a meal quickly, I look for a product that suits the dish I’m planning. Around 29% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Meals to plan | The total amount to use and the storage instructions after opening. | If I’m cooking for two or planning several meals, I want to be able to use all the contents once I’ve opened the tin. Planning these meals is a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Ingredients, salt per 100 g and allergen information for the product you choose. | Before choosing between a plain product and a ready-made recipe, I want to read the ingredients. Around 14% of consumers make checking the label a priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming an “individual tin” is a defined portion
The products mentioned range from small 125 to 130 g tins to containers weighing 215, 265 or 530 g. None of these weights necessarily matches the amount you’ll use in your meal.
Before choosing a multipack, check how many tins it contains, the weight of each one and what your recipe calls for.
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Choosing a large tin without planning how to use it
A larger size means you’ll need to plan what to do with the contents after opening.
Plan your meals before you buy and check the storage instructions for the product you choose.
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Confusing plain pulses with a ready-made recipe
Plain chickpeas and a chickpea-based dish don’t play the same role in a recipe. Other ingredients and salt content vary from product to product.
Read the ingredients list and nutrition information for the exact product before deciding how to use it.
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Overlooking storage instructions
Storage requirements after opening vary between products. For its 215 g tin of chickpeas, Auchan’s product information says to refrigerate them in their liquid and eat them within two days. This instruction doesn’t apply to other tins.
Follow the label on your product after opening. Before opening, distinguish between its best-before date (DDM) and its use-by date (DLC).
Brands and retailers to explore
Carrefour
The Carrefour range includes tinned lentils and other pulses in various sizes, including Carrefour Classic’ lentils in packs of 3 × 130 g and in 530 g tins.
- Small, separate tins let you open one at a time.
- Check the size and recipe for each product rather than assuming they’re the same across the range.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère NOTRE JARDIN
E.Leclerc stocks NOTRE JARDIN chickpeas in a pack of 3 × 130 g, a size worth considering if you want to open the tins separately.
- The product information lists soaked chickpeas, water and salt as the ingredients.
- Check the product details and availability at your local E.Leclerc store.
Auchan
Auchan stocks 215 g tins of chickpeas, as well as a multipack that includes 3 × 125 g sizes.
- The product information for Auchan’s 215 g chickpeas lists the ingredients and instructions for after opening.
- Information about possible traces of allergens and storage for this product doesn’t automatically apply to other sizes.
ALDI
The ALDI France range includes 265 g tins of ALL SEASONS chickpeas and 530 g tins of FLEURS DES CHAMPS prepared lentils.
- These two products show how different sizes can suit different meal plans.
- Check what’s available in store and remember that prepared lentils are different from plain pulses.
Bjorg
Bjorg’s 250 g quinoa and chickpea doypack is a ready-made meal that takes two minutes to prepare, not a tin of plain chickpeas.
- Consider this size if a ready-made recipe is what you’re looking for.
- For this specific product, Bjorg lists 0.56 g of salt per 100 g. Read the ingredients before comparing it with another recipe.
Joybuy products by size
These products include a 250 g tin for a mid-sized quantity, a 400 g ready-made recipe and larger sizes to consider if you’re planning several meals. Choose based on how much you’ll actually use, rather than treating every container as an individual portion.
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BONDUELLE steamed red kidney beans 250 g
This 250 g size may suit a recipe that calls for a moderate amount of red kidney beans. Check how much your dish needs and read the label for storage instructions if you’re planning to keep any leftovers.
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BONDUELLE chickpeas cooked in couscous sauce 400 g
This ready-made recipe is ideal if you’re looking for cooked chickpeas rather than a plain base to use in different dishes. The container holds 400 g, so compare this amount with your planned meal and read the ingredients list.
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GÜNES VADIS chickpeas 540 g
Consider this 540 g size if you’ve planned to use the chickpeas in several dishes. Before opening, check the label for the amount your recipes need and the storage instructions.
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Royal Bourbon plain lentils 400 g
These 400 g of plain lentils may suit a recipe that uses this amount or several planned meals. Check the drained weight and storage instructions on the packaging before deciding how to use the contents.
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GÜNES VADIS chickpeas 820 g
If you’re cooking for one, you’ll need to plan several uses for this 820 g size. Before choosing this large tin, check the ingredients and storage instructions for the product after opening.
Frequently asked questions
What size tin should I choose for one person?
Choose based on the amount your recipe needs, not just the word “individual”. To reduce leftovers, look for small tins that are genuinely separate. E.Leclerc stocks NOTRE JARDIN chickpeas in a pack of 3 × 130 g, while Auchan and Carrefour offer other small sizes in their ranges.
How can I tell plain pulses from a ready-made dish?
Read the ingredients list and the full product name. Auchan’s 215 g chickpeas are listed as soaked chickpeas, water and salt; Bjorg’s 250 g quinoa and chickpeas is a ready-made recipe intended for a different use.
What should I do with the contents after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the product you’ve bought. Specifically, the product information for Auchan’s 215 g chickpeas says to store the contents in their liquid in the fridge and eat them within two days. Don’t assume the same advice applies to another product.
Can you eat tinned food after its best-before date?
A product isn’t automatically unsafe to eat after its best-before date has passed. The DGCCRF says it may lose some of its flavour if the packaging is intact. However, you shouldn’t eat a product after its use-by date. Check the date on the product, the condition of the packaging and how it has been stored.
Is allergen information the same on every tin?
No. Check each product individually. The product information for Auchan’s 215 g chickpeas warns that they may contain traces of cereals containing gluten. This doesn’t tell you anything about another tin or batch.